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The pay: The median salary for auto service technicians and
mechanics in 2022 was $47,770 per year.
The prospects: As such, BLS is only projecting a two percent
increase in the number of jobs in this profession between 2022
and 2032—equivalent to the loss of 12,800 jobs. Despite the small
amount of growth, people with mechanic skills will remain essential
for providing vehicle service when it is needed, especially given
that many older cars without these sophisticated sensors will likely
remain on the road for years to come.
The education: Some auto mechanics do attend trade schools,
associates degree college programs, or other post-secondary
programs to learn about automotive service technology. These
brief programs provide a primer for much of what auto mechanics
will need to know in their careers, thus providing a pathway to
higher-level positions, reducing the need for on-the-job training,
or both. There are also entry-level jobs in the auto service industry
for individuals who don’t have post-secondary training, but those
workers should expect lower salaries, more on-the-job training, and
a generally slower path toward advancement.